Billy Wade "Bill" Spiller (4 June 1926 – 23 September 2004) was a public broadcasting pioneer in the U.S. state of Virginia.
A native of Tulia, Texas, Spiller was working as an engineer for KATC-TV, the ABC station in Lafayette, Louisiana, when in 1963, he was recruited to become the first general manager of WCVE-TV (Channel 23) and Central Virginia Educational Telecommunications Corporation in Richmond, Virginia. The company became Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Company.
Beginning in January 1964, he worked to construct and establish the new public television station. WCVE-TV first went on the air September 14, 1964, and in the 27 years that followed, Spiller spearheaded the establishment of three additional public television stations in central and Northern Virginia, saved a financially troubled station, and stepped in to prevent public radio from disappearing from Richmond.
The community-owned public broadcasting company was established in 1961 by Thomas Boushall and a group of concerned citizens to employ television for educational purposes. The patron saints of public broadcasting in central Virginia were Spiller, Boushall, E. Claiborne Robins Sr. and Mary Ann Franklin. Mrs. Franklin first approached Boushall and Henry I. Willett, then Superintendent of Richmond City Schools, with the idea of establishing an educational television station. Boushall and Franklin then recruited Spiller, who was hired in December 1963 and began working for them in January 1964, three years before the establishment of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), of which WCVE-TV became a charter member.
WCVE's sister station, WCVW (channel 57) signed on in 1967 after Spiller successfully petitioned the FCC to grant a license for a second public television station. Richmond became the first community in Virginia to have dual public television stations, and only the eighth in the nation to do so.
In 1974, Commonwealth Public Broadcasting took over WNVT, a Fairfax public TV station on the verge of financial insolvency, to support the continuation of Northern Virginia-based educational programming. In 1981, Spiller oversaw the establishment of a second Northern Virginia station, WNVC, primarily serving the international community in the Washington area by rebroadcasting non-English language news and public interest programming. Those stations continue to operate today as MHz Networks, and are still owned by CPB.
When Union Theological Seminary announced its plans to give up its public radio license for WRFK, Spiller ensured that public radio would remain alive and well in Richmond and in 1988, WCVE-FM radio went on the air. The following year, under Spiller's leadership, the company established a Charlottesville public television station under call sign WHTJ; that station became a translator for WCVE.
Spiller's final contribution to the growth and development of public broadcasting in central Virginia occurred just before his retirement, with the addition of a 25,000 square foot (2,300 m²) TV and radio studio-office complex at 23 Sesame Street in Bon Air in 1991.
He died on September 23, 2004.
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Some of their strengths
Bill W. Spiller has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Energetic, Intelligent, Charming, Passionate, Communicative, Optimistic, and Independent.
Charming and Quick-witted
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Bill W. Spiller is someone who is a charming, quick-witted, and energetic person who combines passion and intelligence with an ability to feel what others are feeling and to effectively communicate with them. A person who is ambitious and motivated.
Strong and Resilient
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Bill W. Spiller well know them as someone who can be strong, expansive, and stable like a big tree.
Independent and Organized
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Bill W. Spiller as someone who is independent, organized, inventive, and generous.
A person who is curious and a loves learning, who seems to always know what to say, who has an optimism that can overcome any difficult situation, and who seems to be able to master almost any skill.
Easygoing and Energetic
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Bill W. Spiller is someone who has an easygoing nature and a healthy sense of humor, with a mind that requires constant stimulation in order to feel fulfilled.
They are also someone who is balanced, organized, and in-charge, and who loves traveling, working hard, and figuring out the patterns of things.
Logical and Reasonable
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Bill W. Spiller tends to be someone who is understanding, logical, and reasonable. Who can be intellectual and intuitive, speak the truth at any cost, be witty and sociable, and live life to its fullest.
Some of Bill W. Spiller's challenges
While Bill W. Spiller has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Bill W. Spiller can be Hypocritical, Self-centered, Short-tempered, Impulsive, Difficult, Perfectionist, and Domineering.
Hypocritical and Self-centered
One of Bill W. Spiller's key challenges is that they are someone who can be perceived as hypocritical and self-centered.
Bill W. Spiller must also exercise caution as they can be short-tempered and aggressive.
Domineering and Impatient
Bill W. Spiller is someone who can be demanding, egotistical, and controlling, can have a lack of judgment regarding personal finances, be argumentative and stubborn, and who can have a tendency to be withdrawn and spend time in self-imposed isolation.
Indecisive and Distracted
Finally, Bill W. Spiller also can have a hard time staying focused and can easily become restless.
